HD Pentax 16-85 - QA Issues?

RustyToyotaVT · 07-30-2015, 12:21 PM

How's everyone's luck been with this lens so far? I ordered my first from B&H, and it had a problem with a loose lens element. When focusing either in AF mode or manually, the IF element would move quite a bit within the lens housing. That was very visible through the viewfinder and in live view as the image jumping all over the place, and it would have difficulty focusing on fine objects when zoomed in and close up, as the item it was trying to focus on would move as the lens hunted back and forth.

My second copy came in from B&H today. This one has good elements which made me happy initially, but then I tried to autofocus and the DC AF motor makes a loud clicking noise when moving, noted here:

You Tube

So now I'm sending this one back too, as the last lens was totally silent as is my 18-135 and my friend's 18-50. I don't want to take a chance on this motor going bad in the near future, or dealing with that sound it if I take a video.

Anyone else have issues? Should I re-evaluate the lens I want, give them a few more months of production, or just order another and hope the third time is a charm? I loved the image quality, FWIW.

Thanks!

-Sean

Last edited by RustyToyotaVT; 07-30-2015 at 12:33 PM.

percy · 07-30-2015, 12:26 PM

No problems with mine - I'm very pleased with it so far. It's spent more time on my camera than any other lens since I had it.

RustyToyotaVT · 07-30-2015, 12:49 PM

Thanks percy, glad to hear yours has been good. I'm leaning toward ordering another tomorrow, but I wanted to see how everyone else has made out in case it wasn't just me.

-Sean

**EricBrown** · 07-30-2015, 01:48 PM

I've had mine for 3 months now and working like charm. Sorry to hear about bad luck, but at least you can still exchange it.

longbow · 07-30-2015, 02:00 PM

4 months - no problems, great lens

RustyToyotaVT · 07-30-2015, 02:05 PM

Thanks guys - makes me feel better about ordering a 3rd. I'm going to try Adorama this time and hope it changes up my luck a bit!

percy · 07-30-2015, 02:10 PM

Originally posted by EricBrown

I've had mine for 3 months now and working like charm. Sorry to hear about bad luck, but at least you can still exchange it.

Sorry to hear you've been unlucky with yours. I hope the next one works out ok. If you get a decent copy I think you'll probably enjoy using it.

bdery · 07-31-2015, 05:12 AM

I think you've had the only two faulty copies so far

Mine is perfect. And I love it!

normhead · 07-31-2015, 05:26 AM - **1 Like**

Everyone who has one seems happy with this lens. I'd keep trying for a good copy. After all, whatever it was that made you want the lens in the first place is still true.

RustyToyotaVT · 07-31-2015, 09:06 PM

Just ordered from Adorama. Thanks guys

guinnessman · 08-06-2015, 08:12 PM

Mine came Tuesday from Adorama, so far so good, really sharp lens, and I like the contrast. The silent DC motor is almost a revelation compared to screwdrive.

I have noticed that my mic port cover likes to pop out though, while I understand that with a sealed lens, that air has to go somewhere, but I'm somewhat concerned about the cover coming loose, and moisture getting in. Took this tonight, downtown along the Clark Fork.

RustyToyotaVT · 08-07-2015, 05:41 AM

Very nice! I ordered another. This one seems to be the real deal so far, so Im happy. Haven't experienced that much air that it's opening the mic port though, not sure if that's maybe just loose on your camera body?

UPDATE: After using it quite a bit in the field, I found the left side of the frame to be quite soft, especially wide open. I was also getting lots of purple fringing on that side that I wasn't on the right. It's being RMA'd.

RustyToyotaVT · 08-27-2015, 09:54 AM

So to update you, the third copy was bad too. It had an alignment issue that made the left-hand side of the frame very soft, and the corner sharpness wide-open was actually quite a bit worse than my 18-135.

I was really disappointed with the shots I got with it down at the beach a couple of weeks ago (Stonington Borough, CT - beautiful place!) when I was there with my fiancee. I got a little crazy and started doing tests back-to-back on a tripod to be sure I wasn't losing my mind. I just asked for an RMA and I'm going to re-evaluate what I want. I'm thinking that maybe WR isn't as important as I thought, and I'll just use the 18-135 when I'm out in the woods. I just would have liked to keep the extra 2mm on the wide end

frogfoot · 08-27-2015, 11:08 AM

Mine is decentered too - weak right side. After "repair" it became slightly better on the right but awfull on the left, where it was absolutely perfect before..

RustyToyotaVT · 08-28-2015, 05:30 AM

Originally posted by frogfoot

Mine is decentered too - weak right side. After "repair" it became slightly better on the right but awfull on the left, where it was absolutely perfect before..

I'm sorry, that's a bummer. Which repair center, CRIS or Precision Camera? Precision is about 5 minutes from here.

07-31-2015, 05:12 AM	#8
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	I think you've had the only two faulty copies so far Mine is perfect. And I love it! Last edited by bdery; 07-31-2015 at 09:32 AM.

08-07-2015, 05:41 AM	#12
RustyToyotaVT Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Posts: 103 Original Poster	Very nice! I ordered another. This one seems to be the real deal so far, so Im happy. Haven't experienced that much air that it's opening the mic port though, not sure if that's maybe just loose on your camera body? UPDATE: After using it quite a bit in the field, I found the left side of the frame to be quite soft, especially wide open. I was also getting lots of purple fringing on that side that I wasn't on the right. It's being RMA'd. Last edited by RustyToyotaVT; 08-27-2015 at 09:56 AM.

08-28-2015, 05:30 AM	#15
RustyToyotaVT Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Posts: 103 Original Poster	Originally posted by frogfoot Mine is decentered too - weak right side. After "repair" it became slightly better on the right but awfull on the left, where it was absolutely perfect before.. I'm sorry, that's a bummer. Which repair center, CRIS or Precision Camera? Precision is about 5 minutes from here. Last edited by RustyToyotaVT; 08-28-2015 at 11:13 AM.

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07-30-2015, 12:26 PM	#2
percy Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Herefordshire, UK Posts: 197	No problems with mine - I'm very pleased with it so far. It's spent more time on my camera than any other lens since I had it.

07-30-2015, 12:49 PM	#3
RustyToyotaVT Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Posts: 103 Original Poster	Thanks percy, glad to hear yours has been good. I'm leaning toward ordering another tomorrow, but I wanted to see how everyone else has made out in case it wasn't just me. -Sean

07-30-2015, 01:48 PM	#4
EricBrown Site Supporter Join Date: May 2011 Location: Arlington, VA USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,060	I've had mine for 3 months now and working like charm. Sorry to hear about bad luck, but at least you can still exchange it.

07-30-2015, 02:00 PM	#5
longbow Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: NW Oregon Posts: 905	4 months - no problems, great lens

07-30-2015, 02:05 PM	#6
RustyToyotaVT Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Posts: 103 Original Poster	Thanks guys - makes me feel better about ordering a 3rd. I'm going to try Adorama this time and hope it changes up my luck a bit!

07-30-2015, 02:10 PM	#7
percy Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Herefordshire, UK Posts: 197	Originally posted by EricBrown I've had mine for 3 months now and working like charm. Sorry to hear about bad luck, but at least you can still exchange it. Sorry to hear you've been unlucky with yours. I hope the next one works out ok. If you get a decent copy I think you'll probably enjoy using it.

07-31-2015, 05:26 AM - 1 Like	#9
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Everyone who has one seems happy with this lens. I'd keep trying for a good copy. After all, whatever it was that made you want the lens in the first place is still true.

07-31-2015, 09:06 PM	#10
RustyToyotaVT Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Posts: 103 Original Poster	Just ordered from Adorama. Thanks guys

08-27-2015, 09:54 AM	#13
RustyToyotaVT Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Posts: 103 Original Poster	So to update you, the third copy was bad too. It had an alignment issue that made the left-hand side of the frame very soft, and the corner sharpness wide-open was actually quite a bit worse than my 18-135. I was really disappointed with the shots I got with it down at the beach a couple of weeks ago (Stonington Borough, CT - beautiful place!) when I was there with my fiancee. I got a little crazy and started doing tests back-to-back on a tripod to be sure I wasn't losing my mind. I just asked for an RMA and I'm going to re-evaluate what I want. I'm thinking that maybe WR isn't as important as I thought, and I'll just use the 18-135 when I'm out in the woods. I just would have liked to keep the extra 2mm on the wide end

08-27-2015, 11:08 AM	#14
frogfoot Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Moscow Posts: 70	Mine is decentered too - weak right side. After "repair" it became slightly better on the right but awfull on the left, where it was absolutely perfect before..

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